Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski BG’s Rocco Cacciotti (60) takes off his helmet after shaking hands with the Clairton team on Thursday.

MECHANICSBURG — Bishop Guilfoyle Academy did not have many bright spots in Thursday’s 35-3 loss to Clairton in the PIAA Class 1A championship game at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field, but junior Rocco Cacciotti flashed as one of them.

Cacciotti led the Marauders with 12 tackles, including four for loss and a sack on fourth down to thwart a Bears drive.

“The cupboard isn’t bare (for next year),” Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler said. “We have younger kids that we have been trying to develop, and some younger kids played well. Rocco has been about as good as we have had. His motor and his energy is unmatched. He played well today. It’s good knowing he’s coming back to lead us, because he’s a good leader already. He’ll be a centerpiece next year for sure.”

Cacciotti jumped offside on a fourth down play on Clairton’s first drive allowing the Bears to get a first down, and took it hard.

“I blame myself for the loss, and I want to apologize to the seniors for that,” Cacciotti said. “The first quarter, it was my fault. We couldn’t cause any turnovers, but we gave it our all.”

But if the way he played the rest of the game is any indicator, it could be the start of a special final season for Cacciotti and his returning teammates.

“We’ll be hungry,” Cacciotti said. “This is going to eat at us for a long time. We’re all going to feel it for a good bit, but we’ll come back in the summer and work just as hard or harder than we did this season. I know we will. We’ll come back ready.”

Though they left with silver medals, even the senior class agreed everyone left everything on the field.

“It sucks right now, but I’m proud of everyone,” BG senior defensive back Tyson Lestochi said. “Some of these kids didn’t even start one game last year, and they helped us get back to the state championship. They busted their butt and tried as hard as possible. That’s all you can ask for. You want to play your best, but all you can really ask for is that you try as hard as you can.”

Great year for BG sports

Thursday’s game was the fourth time Bishop Guilfoyle has competed for a PIAA team championship in 2025.

The girls basketball team won a state championship in March, and the boys golf, girls soccer and football team all advanced to the PIAA final over the last couple months.

“It’s been an amazing year,” BG athletic director Joe Landolfi said. “When you look back at the calendar year, the girls won a basketball state championship. Then starting this school year, boys golf had many firsts they never had before. They had won a Laurel Highlands title before, but they won District 6, which they never did before and won a regional, which they never did before. They played in the state championship match for the first time.

“Girls soccer three-peated in District 6, but they had lost in the (state) semifinals and quarterfinals the two years before. This year they made it all the way to the state championship game, which had never been done before. Now we had football for the seventh time playing for the state championship. It has been an incredible 2025.”

Landolfi said the school has built a name for itself across the state in scholastic sports.

“That cuts both ways,” Landolfi said. “It’s a blessing, because our teams have been so successful, but it can be a curse, because everyone brings their ‘A’ game when they play Bishop Guilfoyle. When the Marauders walk on the field, court, course for any contest, everyone is bringing their ‘A’ game against us. They know the reputation of Bishop Guilfoyle athletics.”

Lombardi ready to retire

One day after his final meeting as PIAA executive director, Robert Lombardi was on the field for the football championships working his final month before retirement.

“It’s going to be a change after almost 38 years in the office,” Lombardi said. “I have been in the office longer than some of our staff members have been alive. But that’s kind of the fun of it. Our staff is young, and with me getting out of there, they are very vibrant. We have one of the best staff in the country, and they are going to do great things. With Mark (Byers’) leadership and the people around him, they will do a great job.”

Wednesday the PIAA approved the shot clock for high school and junior varsity basketball officially after a third reading was approved.

“I’m very proud of the organization,” Lombardi said. “We have done a lot of great things, and we’re one of the leaders in the country. Other states have come to us for a lot of things, whether it be the transfer rule, which other states have used, and some other things we do like our championship events, which are first class. We work very hard to improve those every year.”

Rather than continue watching other families celebrate championships at sporting venues across the state, Lombardi plans to spend his time going forward with his own family.

“My wife and I have some trips scheduled,” Lombardi said. “Our children are adult children, and they are living in different parts of the country, so we hope to go see them a little bit. There are some folks I haven’t seen in a number of years. It’s going to be fun.”